Wood concrete or aerated concrete: a comparative analysis of

The argument about what is better - arbolit or aerated concrete (foam concrete, gas silicate and their analogues) will be constructive only if we consider a specific situation. If we analyze materials in general, then each of them has both pluses and minuses.

In our article, we tried to provide the most important information about the described compositions, so you just have to choose the one that best copes with the planned tasks.

Aerated concrete blocks

Feature and Benefits

Aerated concrete blocks представляют собой изделия на основе цементного раствора с минеральными наполнителями. В процессе приготовления состава в него вносят порообразующие добавки, которые способствую формированию в толще материала герметичных микроскопических полостей.

Note! The material is used both in the form of ready-made modules, and in the form of mortar, which is poured into the formwork directly on the object.

The porous structure provides the following advantages to aerated concrete:

• Low specific weight (from 800 kg / m³ depending on the specific model). The lightness of the material allows to erect buildings on weak soils and thin foundations.
• Ease of processing. Relatively soft aerated concrete is well cut and polished: costly cutting of reinforced concrete with diamond circles, which is used when working with traditional materials, is not required.

• Units manufactured in industrial conditions with all tolerances have an almost perfect geometry. Due to this masonry turns into an assembly of a kind designer.

Tip! To facilitate the work and improve the operational characteristics of the wall instead of mortar, you can take a special glue. Of course, the price will be slightly higher, but the speed of installation will increase.

Cons of aerated concrete

The disadvantages include the following:

• First, the material crumbles quite kinks.. That is why the base should be as stable as possible even at low power: at the slightest distortions, the wall can crack.

• Secondly, the heat insulation of the material, although it exceeds the performance of ordinary concrete, is still not enough to avoid additional insulation.. The instruction recommends to finish the aerated concrete walls outside with polystyrene or mineral wool panels, followed by lining.
• It should also be noted that the relatively thin laying (30-40 cm) is often blown under strong winds.. Moreover, even the arrangement of very thin adhesive joints, not to mention the standard gaps of 10–12 mm for mortar, does not completely save from blowing.

As a result, it should be noted that, despite its advantages, these blocks require a very responsible approach, and it will take a long time to “bring the building to mind” after the construction of the supporting structure.

Arbolit

Properties and main advantages

Wood concrete is a lightweight construction material created on the basis of concrete and wood filler. At the stage of mixing the solution, sawdust, straw dust or hemp fiber are introduced into it, which contributes to the formation of a durable composite with excellent performance characteristics.

Tip! If possible, choose products with a large fraction of the filler. Wood chips are better than sawdust, and even more - better than chopped straw, and copes with heat saving, and with the strengthening of the solution.

The advantages of arbolita include:

• Effective thermal insulation. The material with which the internal pores of the blocks are filled has a low thermal conductivity, thanks to which the walls themselves act as an energy-saving layer.
• High mechanical strength. Despite the fact that arbolit is quite easy, laying out of it does not need additional reinforcement. At the same time, the material itself is relatively simply processed, so diamond drilling of holes in concrete for laying communication channels is definitely not needed.

Note! An additional plus is the convenience of cladding. The blocks do not crumble under mechanical action, because the panels can be attached to them with ordinary anchors.

• Good climatic characteristics. Cellulose, which is part of the solution, has a high hygroscopicity, because the walls in some way regulate the humidity inside the room.
• Despite the high content of wood components, the blocks do not burn. Of course, about full fire resistance (resistance to temperatures over 1000 ⁰C) there is no need to speak, but this is quite enough to ensure a basic level of fire safety.

The drawbacks of wood concrete in construction

Of course, there are arbolita and cons:

• First, it is still desirable to protect the pulp blocks from moisture. Otherwise, with constant wetting, it will begin to swell and then decompose.
• Secondly, the loose filler does not allow to give the arbolit blocks a perfectly even shape. That is why, doing the laying with your own hands, you need to control the position of each row in terms of level and plumb, and correct any distortions.
• Well, finally - the cost. Here, the dispute "what is better arbolit or expanded clay concrete and other porous compositions" is decided unequivocally not in favor of the first.

What to choose?

Now we come to the most important question: so which of the listed materials will suit us?

Here it is worth being guided by such moments:

• If the cost allows - feel free to take arbolit. Let you spend a little more time on the construction of the "box", but save on additional weatherization.
• Also you should not risk using aerated concrete on mobile soils, especially if you do not plan to install a powerful foundation.
• In all other cases, the use of aerated concrete blocks is quite acceptable. Naturally, here you need to be very careful about heat engineering calculations, because the cost of heat insulation for aerated concrete blocks can "eat" all the economic benefits.

Conclusion

Choosing which is better - arbolit or foam concrete (aerated concrete), you need to analyze the whole complex of conditions. Of course, the first material has more advanced performance characteristics, but it cannot be called universal. If you are interested in this question, and you want to learn more, we recommend watching the video in this article.